The Politics Blog » Roger Freemanhttp://blog.thenewstribune.com/politicsblog
Tue, 16 Jul 2013 02:08:00 +0000en-UShourly1http://wordpress.org/?v=4.0Bill to give sex trafficking victims a break on prostitution convictions passes Househttp://blog.thenewstribune.com/politicsblog/2013/02/25/bill-to-give-sex-trafficking-victims-a-break-on-prostitution-convictions-passes-house/
http://blog.thenewstribune.com/politicsblog/2013/02/25/bill-to-give-sex-trafficking-victims-a-break-on-prostitution-convictions-passes-house/#commentsMon, 25 Feb 2013 20:48:46 +0000http://blog.thenewstribune.com/politicsblog/?p=588A proposed law that would give sex-trafficking victims a way to clear multiple prostitution convictions from their records was voted out of the state House of Representatives Monday.

House Bill 1292 would allow victims of sex trafficking in Washington to apply to vacate past prostitution convictions, even if they have been convicted multiple times or are facing another prostitution charge.

Right now, state law only allows for the vacation of one conviction. If victims of sex trafficking have previously had a conviction vacated or are facing new criminal charges, they can’t wipe their records clean again.

In a near party-line vote, the state House passed the contentious “Reproductive Parity Act” to the Senate by a 53-to-43 margin Friday. One Republican, freshman Rep. Chad Magendaz of Issaquah, voted in favor, and two Democrats – freshman Rep. Roger Freeman of Federal Way and Rep. Chris Hurst of Enumclaw – voted against the bill requiring health insurers to pay for abortions if they also insure maternity services.

House Bill 1044 now goes to the Senate, where Sen. Randi Becker, R-Eatonville, had pledged to hear it as one of the first bills that are sent over by the House ata today’s cutoff.